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2020 Reads and Reviews ~ Anything goes
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Waiting for Gertrude: A Graveyard Gothic
Bill Richardson
4/5 stars
This delightful story is set in Paris’s famous Pere-Lachaise cemetery where many famous people are buried there including Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Alice B. Toklas to name a few. Author Bill Richardson imagines that the celebrity dead have now been reincarnated into cats who live, work, fight and bicker in the cemetery.
It Takes a Witch – Heather Blake – 2**
The premise of this cozy mystery is pretty lame. The murder plot (main reason to read a cozy mystery in my humble opinion) was moderately interesting. I also thought the romantic interest was handled fairly well, with a nice promise of more to come. But I’ll probably never know what happens between Darcy and Nick, because I have no plans to continue this series.
My full review HERE
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Smoke Gets in Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory
Caitlin Doughty
4/5 stars
Doughty writes about her life and how she came to work in a crematory and eventually earning her degree in mortuary science. She also talks about the history and science of cremation and much more. I thought this so interesting and hard to put down. This may not be for everyone but if you are open to unusual experiences this may be the book for you.
Caroline: Little House Revisited – Sarah Miller – 3.5***
Readers familiar with Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, will find this very familiar. Miller chooses to retell Wilder’s stories for an adult audience, focusing on Laura’s mother, Caroline. I really enjoyed this work of historical fiction, though I cringed at the lead character’s attitudes towards the Native American population. Miller does not gloss over the very real challenges of pioneer life – the lack of supplies, or routine comforts we take for granted.
My full review HERE
Fraternity – Diane Brady – 3***
In 1968, a visionary priest recruited 20 black men to the College of the Holy Cross and changed their lives and the course of history. This was a very interesting look at how their experience influenced these young men. Brady focuses on seven of the recruits, but the person who really stands out in this tale is Rev. John Brooks, the priest who recruited the students, fought for funds, mentored them, and championed their causes.
My full review HERE
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All About All About Eve: The Complete Behind-the-Scenes Story of the Bitchiest Film Ever Made!
Sam Staggs
4/5 stars
This was an interesting look at the movie and eventually a play called All About Eve. The movie stars Bette Davis and Anne Baxter as rivals in the theater, one is on her way up and one is on her way down in their careers. Sam Staggs does a thorough job detailing the behind the scenes story of the movie, the actors and the drama on the set and off the set. He also discusses the musical stage version that starred Lauren Bacall years later after the original movie came out. This is definitely for movie buffs. I don’t think I have ever read such a detailed account of the story of a movie!
Next Year in Havana – Chanel Cleeton – 3***
Another work of historical fiction that relies on the bifurcated story line. Basically you have two romances each featuring a privileged young woman with a man who is not in her class, one in the 1950s and the other in 2017. It held my attention, and had some interesting historical elements.
My full review HERE
Christmas Cow Bells – Mollie Cox Bryan – 3***
First in a new cozy mystery series set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and featuring artisanal cheese maker Brynn MacAllister. This was just delightful. I love the basic premise of a micro-dairy farmer who is trying to make her way in a new community, but facing difficulties from traditionalists who do not want any change. I’m not really an animal lover, but I did really love the animal characters: Petunia, Buttermilk, Marigold and Freckles. I look forward to reading more of this series.
My full review HERE
Kiss Of Pride – Sandra Hill – 2.5**
Oh my stars! This is so bad it’s good. I had no idea that Vampire Viking Angels are a thing, but I think I’m glad they are. Despite the dreadfully awful writing and the ridiculous plot, this was still fun. It was a fast-paced, quick read that entertained.
My full review HERE
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The Green Mile
Stephen King
5/5 stars
Since our library closed, I had been searching through my house for books to read and came upon The Green Mile in my son’s collection. I have always enjoyed King’s books and this is no exception. I had seen the movie previously when it first came out but I was blown away again by the story and I had a hard time putting this down. The story is set in a prison on death row in the 1930’s and surrounds a black man, John Coffey who was tried for killing two young girls. Coffey is an unusual man, who has a gift for healing which comes out when he heals a dying mouse on the prison block. This leads to an event that could cause the prison guards to lose their jobs but they go ahead with their plans anyway. Highly recommended.
The Mile End Murder, Sinclair McKay5 stars!
One of the best reads of 2020 for me! Wonderfully written, with no spoilers on the book jacket, in the photo section OR in the text itself. You need to read the book carefully to know where the author is going with the information. On top of this being a fine true-crime story it almost amounts to time travel. The author does an outstanding job of taking the reader back to daily life in Victorian times, anchoring the story in the surrounding circumstances of the creation of London's present-day urban sprawl, the seething social and political movements of the time and a number of other interesting crimes. Don't miss this one, if you love history, true stories that read like fine fiction, or of course Victoriana.
The Boston Girl – Anita Diamant – 5*****
85-year-old Addie Baum is interviewed by her “favorite” granddaughter for a project. She focuses on her youth in the early 20th century, from age 15 to about age 30. I just loved this book. I loved Addie – feisty, intelligent, curious, determined, adventurous, compassionate. She’s a loyal friend and confidante. She’s also practical about her decisions, but still willing to take a risk. I was completely mesmerized by her storytelling.
My full review HERE
A Minute to Midnight – David Baldacci – 3***
Book 2 in the Atlee Pine mystery series has the FBI agent forced to take a “vacation” which she elects to spend back in her childhood hometown of Andersonville, Georgia. Fast-paced and with plenty of twists and action to keep the reader turning pages. It’s almost too much action, especially when Baldacci combines the cold case with a new serial killer in town.
My full review HERE
Dumplin’ – Julie Murphy – 3.5***
I grew up in Texas and am very familiar with the small-town beauty pageant hysteria. I really liked the story arc about Will’s efforts regarding the pageant and how she inspires other girls who don’t fit the standard “beauty-queen” stereotype to step up as well. I also liked how Murphy explored the mother/daughter and friend relationships. I was a somewhat unhappy with the romance aspect; I was really disappointed in how Dumplin’ managed her conflict, but then she’s a teenager.
My full review HERE
Ella Minnow Pea – Mark Dunn – 5***** and a ❤
A novel told in letters about an island nation off the coast of South Carolina where the residents pride themselves on their literacy. And then a tile falls off a monument and their exalted leaders declare that letter is no longer to be used. What’s one little letter? There are 25 others. But as more letter tiles fall, restrictions – and penalties – become more onerous. And the citizens of Nollop realize their nation is being ruined by those in charge.
My full review HERE
The Island of Sea Women – Lisa See – 4****
See’s work of historical fiction is set on the Korean island of Jeju, and follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from different backgrounds who become friends. Both begin to apprentice to the women of the island in their unique all-female diving collective. I really liked this work, both for what I learned about this culture, and for the exploration of female relationships – jealousies, secrets, confidences shared, and misunderstanding that cause seemingly irreparable rifts.
My full review HERE
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1959: The Year Everything Changed
Fred Kaplan
4/5 stars
Kaplan takes a look at the events of 1959 and the history behind them. Topics include the space race, Castro’s rise to power, the loosening of censorship, the advance of birth control, civil rights, Motown and much more. One of the most interesting sections to me was that the President Eisenhower sent jazz ambassadors around the world on a good will tour. Dizzy Gillespie and his 18 piece band toured for ten weeks going to Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and more. It was a major hit and other groups with multi-cultural members were then sent out to perform.
Julie wrote: "1959: The Year Everything Changed
Fred Kaplan
4/5 stars
Kaplan takes a look at the events of 1959 and the hist..."
Sounds interesting. I would have been a toddler.
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The Nest
Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
4/5 stars
This is the interesting tale of a family whose children are expecting to receive a nest egg from their parents. However, when their older brother Leo is in an car accident with a woman, the mother decides to give a good portion of the wealth to Leo to help with his recovery. This set back wrecks the plans Leo's siblings had for their portion of the nest and causes them all to re-evaluate their lives and goals including the plans they had for their part of the nest. Enjoyable and hard to put down.
The Only Woman In the Room – Marie Benedict – 3.5***
Hedy Lamarr was a movie star in the 1930s-50s, known for her ethereal beauty. She was also a highly intelligent, self-taught scientist and inventor. I knew some of this before reading the book, but still found it fascinating and engaging.
My full review HERE
Arguing With Idiots – Glenn Beck – 1*
I’d never heard of Glenn Beck, but apparently, he has a popular radio show. Now that I’ve heard of him, I’ll be sure to never listen to his show. My major problem with this was that, while Beck may have some coherent and well-researched responses to many issues, he chose to over-exaggerate the opposition – i.e. calling anyone who voices an opposing viewpoint an idiot.
My full review HERE
The Fire She Set, by Leigh Overton Boyd, Emily Adams, and Lisa Overton
5 stars!
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Song Of the Lion – Anne Hillerman – 3.5***
This is book # 21 in the Leaphorn & Chee mystery series, set on the Navajo nation in Arizona and New Mexico. A car bombing in a high school parking lot begins the action, which focuses on the mediator for a dispute over a major development at the Grand Canyon. Hillerman matches her late father’s skill at plotting and character development. I love Officer Bernadette Manuelito who is a strong female lead. I read this out of order, but didn’t feel lost; still I think it’s a series that begs to be read in order.
My full review HERE
Escape – Caroline Jessop with Laura Palmer – 3.5***
Carolyn Jessop was only eighteen when she was coerced into an arranged marriage with a high-ranking member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). Merril Jessop was thirty-two years her senior and already had three wives, but polygamy is a way of life for the FLDS. Despite her indoctrination into the belief system, she felt she simply had to escape … with all eight of her children in tow. It’s a fascinating and harrowing tale.
My full review HERE
The Twenty-One Balloons – William Pène du Bois – 4****
This is a classic of children’s literature, for which du Bois was awarded the Newbery Medal. It’s a fantastical adventure story featuring Professor William Waterman Sherman, who leaves San Francisco on Aug 15, 1883, in a balloon, with the intention of going across the Pacific Ocean and enjoying some solitude. He wasn’t counting on Krakatoa’s explosive eruption, however… The illustrations (also by du Bois) provide a visual representation to go along with some of the detailed descriptions of the various inventions.
My full review HERE
The Only Good Indians, Stephen Graham Jones4 stars!
I have never read anything like this! Intensely written with a different, distinct voice coming from each character. Every word drips with meaning, every action is significant, and the story builds towards its resolution without losing direction for an instant. And there's plenty of blood and gore. Read this one. Just read it.
The Growing Season – Sarah Frey – 3***
The subtitle is all the synopsis you need: How I built a New Life – and Saved an American Farm. Frey grew up on the family’s Southern Illinois farmstead, where she learned the value of hard work and determination. Wanting to leave the poverty behind, she was ready to move on, until she faced the imminent foreclosure on the family land, and decided she just couldn’t let it go. She’s a savvy businesswoman and a principled leader. Her story is interesting, but I found it somewhat repetitive.
My full review HERE
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The Best of Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson
5/5 stars
This is a collection of Matheson's short stories, a few of them I recognized as being made into TV episodes and films. Matheson's imagination never disappoints as you wonder where this story is going to end up, from the church organ who doesn't want to be replaced and the man who woke up only speaking French which he never studied in his life. Highly recommended!
Julie wrote: "The Best of Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson
5/5 stars
This is a collection of Matheson's short stories, a few of th..."
I believe he wrote some Twilight Zone episodes.
Simon the Fiddler – Paulette Jiles – 4****
Set in Texas at the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the reconstruction period, Jiles follows Simon Boudlin and his band of iterant musicians as they try to stay alive and out of trouble, and as Simon tries to win the heart of Doris, an indentured immigrant Irish lass. Simon is a marvelous character: intelligent, quick witted, resourceful, and determined. I love the way Jiles crafts her novels. While the plot focuses on the characters and their reactions to events happening around them, the atmosphere is enhanced by her descriptions of the landscape, the food, and culture of the times.
My full review HERE
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The Best of Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson
5/5 stars
This is a collection of Matheson's short storie..."
Yes, he did!
Julie wrote: "Koren wrote: "Julie wrote: "The Best of Richard Matheson
Richard Matheson
5/5 stars
This is a collection of Matheson'..."
I'm a huge Twilight Zone fan. That's how I knew that without looking it up.
Book Concierge wrote: " Simon the Fiddler
– Paulette Jiles – 4****
Set in Texas at the end of the Civil War and the beginning of the reconstruction period, Jiles follows Simon B..."
I just read News of the World by the same author. I would definitely look for this book.
Ashfall – Mike Millens – 3.5***
As post-apocalyptic novels go, I found this one is pretty interesting, engaging and compelling. I was quickly drawn in by Alex and his situation. But the book really came alive when he meets up with Darla. I want to read more about HER!
My full review HERE
Most Likely to Succeed, Alan Gelb3 solid stars!
A good, interesting read about a pretty unusual case of familicide. The author rightly characterizes this case -- a multiple murder that happened right across the road from his house -- as a truly mysterious situation full of unknowns, the central unknown being the suspect. The court proceedings were well compressed into a readable format, and the dangling questions were laid out very well. Being a neighbor and acquaintance of many of the principal characters gave him a great deal of access to areas of this story that a lot of authors wouldn't have -- and still he came away mystified. Read it and you'll understand why.
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The War of the Worlds – H G Wells – 4****
Classic science-fiction horror. I knew the basic premise going in and had heard snippets of the famous radio broadcast by Orson Welles, but had never read the original. The first-person narrative lends a sense of urgency and immediacy to the narrative. The reader feels completely immersed in the story. Wells includes significant tension; while there are a few moments of respite, I found it a very anxiety-producing read.
My full review HERE